 onchita
Carpio-Morales, Three words that should make all Filipinos a bit more
proud of themselves today. In a country where nothing ever seems to gets
done; where court cases just hang in the air unresolved for decades;
where the very rich see themselves as above the law and the very poor
believe they have the right to simply get what they want because—well,
they're poor; Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, has served notice to
Filipinos one and all that she is one individual who will not play by
the twisted rules of Philippine politics.
Yesterday, Morales
dismissed from service suspended Makati City Mayor Jejomar Erwin "Junjun"
Binay Jr. for "grave misconduct and dishonesty." Aside from his
dismissal from office, Binay is forever disqualified from holding
public office and has to forfeit all the retirement benefits due him.
Morales decision takes
effect immediately. Along with Binay, his co-accused, Marjorie De Veyra,
Pio Kenneth Dasal, Lorenza Amores, Virginia Hernandez, Line Dela Peña,
Mario Badillo, Leonila Querijero, Raydes Pestaño, Nelia Barlis, Cecilio
Lim III, Arnel Cadangan, Emerito Magat, Connie Consulta, Ulysses Orienza,
Giovanni Condes, Manolito Uyaco, Gerardo San Gabriel, Eleno Mendoza Jr.,
and Rodel Nayve, have all been dismissed as well.
For Morales, the
anomalies surrounding the Makati parking building were simply too blatant
and glaring to overlook. From the building's design phase, all the way
through to its completion, Morales found numerous violations such as:
bidding irregularities, violations of government procurement laws, and
falsification of public documents.
Critics of the Makati
Parking Building say it is significantly overpriced and that the former
mayor along with
his co-respondents, as well as the companies involved in its
construction may have illegally benefited from such overpricing.
It is time Filipinos
everywhere stand up and support public officials like Morales. In the
past, there have been other brave souls who have stood up for truth and
honesty—at great personal risk to themselves, only to find an apathetic,
disinterested public unwilling to support them.
For the Philippines
which has now become a fully-entrenched third-world country, as well as
one of the poorest in Southeast Asia, Filipinos no longer have the
luxury to remain apathetic or disengaged. Everyone should now rise and
stand by those who are trying to move this country forward. We hail the
honorable ombudsman for her courageous decision and stand behind her all
the way.
Published 10/10/2015 |
